Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the history, culture, and achievements of Americans with ancestors from Mexico, Spain, the Caribbean, Central and South America. It runs from September 15 to October 15 and was extended from a week to a month by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. Teachers can celebrate by incorporating Hispanic culture into their curriculum through music, language, food, crafts, and learning about famous Hispanic Americans.
Hispanic Heritage Month is a month-long celebration of the history, achievements, culture and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Mexico, Spain, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15, the Independence Day of five Latin American countries. These five countries are El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua. Interestingly, Mexico got its independence on September 16th, while Chile got its freedom on September 18th.
President Lyndon Johnson was the first president to declare a Hispanic heritage celebration in 1968. At the time, the celebration lasted only a week. On August 17, 1988, President Ronald Regan extended the celebration for a month. Today, Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 to October 15 each year.
In the United States, Latinos and Hispanics have made valuable contributions to society with achievements in science, art, entertainment, politics, sports, and various other fields. It’s important that Americans take the time to acknowledge these achievements in order to deepen their appreciation for this rich and diverse culture. Teachers can help students celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in many exciting ways.
Some teachers create units that allow them to teach Hispanic culture in every aspect of the curriculum. Teaching the contributions of Latinos and Hispanics builds self-esteem and pride in students who identify as part of the Hispanic community. Help other students gain an appreciation and respect for the culture and realize that the United States is a country of diversity.
During Hispanic Heritage Month, some teachers try to incorporate the Spanish language into the school day. They can read a book to the children that uses Spanish vocabulary or show a film that teaches the children the Spanish language. Students could also create a miniature dictionary of Spanish vocabulary.
Another way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month is to immerse yourself in various types of music from Hispanic cultures. Teachers can bring CDs that encompass different musical genres from Mexico, Cuba or Spain. This way, students are exposed to music they may never have heard before. An ambitious teacher may even invite a dance teacher to instruct students in Mexican folk dance, Spanish flamenco, or merengue, a popular Dominican Republic social dance.
Students can read books about famous Hispanic Americans or design posters that highlight the contributions of Hispanics and Latinos. They can learn to cook foods from a variety of Hispanic or Latino countries. Some students may also enjoy making handicrafts from Spanish-speaking countries. They can make piñatas, papel picados, or some other Hispanic culture craft.
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